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Rock-haunting Ringtail Possum (Petropseudes dahli)

The Rock-haunting Ringtail Possum is a mostly grey, nocturnal possum that shelters in rocky outcrops and feeds in nearby trees. In Western Australia it is recorded in the Kimberley, where rocky shelters and adjacent feeding habitat may be affected by development works. It is listed as Priority 3 on the WA DBCA list, a category for poorly known taxa known from several locations and not under imminent threat. This is a DBCA priority category, not a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Conservation status

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Priority 3.

Seasonal guidance

Breeding is reported to occur without a particular season. The recorded months for females with young are observations, not evidence of a restricted breeding period.

Breeding: No particular breeding season is reported.

Young observed: Females with a large pouch young and a young on the back have been observed in March, July, August and September.

Seasonal guidance is limited by the information available. The general planning row is not a species-specific activity period.

  • Breeding may occur: No particular breeding season is reported; females with young have been observed in several months.
  • Plan surveys and checks: Planning window only. Consider checks whenever suitable rocky habitat may be affected; no seasonal survey window has been established.

Identification: Appearance and size

Look for a stocky, nocturnal possum with a distinctive partly bare tail. It may retreat into a rock crevice when illuminated.

The back is grey to reddish-grey and the underside is light cream. White hair patches occur beneath the small, round ears and above and below the eyes. A stripe runs from the crown to the middle of the back.

The tail is prehensile but unusually short for a ringtail possum, with fur covering only about half its length and a hairless, scaly end. Reported male body length is 33.4 to 37.5 cm; females are generally larger at 34.9 to 38.3 cm. A reported female weight range is 1,280 to 2,000 g.

Identification: Similar species

Similar species and a comparison key have not been documented. Confirm identification using the combination of rocky habitat, stocky build, short partly furred tail and facial markings rather than any single feature.

Identification: Field signs

Bright eye-shine may be visible in a spotlight. Unlike many possums, this species is reported not to freeze in the beam; it may retreat to a rock shelter or place its head in a crevice while its body remains exposed.

Diagnostic tracks, scats or other reliably identifiable field signs have not been recorded.

Distribution: Known range

The species occurs in northern Australia, with Western Australian records concentrated in the Kimberley.

Its reported range includes the Kimberley in Western Australia, Arnhem Land and the Gulf of Carpentaria, with occurrence extending just across the Queensland border. A population is also reported on Groote Eylandt.

Atlas of Living Australia records show 72 Western Australian records at 21 distinct 0.1-degree locations, between latitude -17.6 and -14.7 and longitude 124.6 and 128.3. Records outside Western Australia are excluded from these figures.

Distribution: Western Australian records

DBCA identifies the Kimberley as the WA region for this species. The species is poorly known, and individual WA survey sites have not been identified.

Habitat: Rocky country

Rocky outcrops are the central habitat feature. Feeding areas in nearby trees are also relevant when assessing a works footprint.

The species is reported to live exclusively in rocky outcrops, favouring areas with large boulders and deeply fissured rock. Crevices provide places to hide and protected ledges are occasionally used for daytime rest.

Habitat: Adjacent vegetation

Trees near the rocky shelter provide food. The vegetation communities essential to this species have not been established.

Foraging habitat: Feeding areas

The possum forages at night, usually close to rocky shelter, and climbs trees to feed.

Its diet includes fruits, flowers and leaves from a variety of trees near its rocky habitat, as well as occasional termites. It usually remains close to the rocks while feeding, but has been found as far as 100 m from the nearest outcrop.

Foraging habitat: Recorded food plants

Reported flowers include Darwin Woollybutt (Eucalyptus miniata) and Darwin Stringybark (Eucalyptus tetrodonta). Reported fruits include Ziziphus oenoplia, Vitex glabrata, Billy Goat Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana) and Owenia vernicosa. Reported leaves include Flagellaria indica, Sersalisia sericea and vine reedcane.

Breeding habitat: Breeding information

Breeding observations and parental care are known, but a separate breeding habitat has not been identified.

There is no particular breeding season reported. Females carrying a large pouch young and a young on the back have been observed in March, July, August and September.

Breeding habitat: Care of young

A young possum spends its first five weeks in the pouch. After leaving the pouch, young are carried on a parent's back. Both parents provide substantial care, and older offspring also assist.

Sheltering habitat: Day shelter

Rock crevices and ledges are important daytime shelter features to identify and protect.

The possum spends much of its time sheltered within rock piles or crevices. It may hide by placing its head into a crevice while leaving its body exposed. It does not make a nest and has occasionally been observed sleeping on well-protected rock ledges during the day.

Sheltering habitat: Night activity

It is reported to be strictly nocturnal, leaving its rocky shelter after dark and climbing nearby trees to feed. It is secretive and tends to avoid contact and confrontation.

Threats: Reported concerns

The species is poorly known. Reported concerns include habitat change and fire, although it is not considered to be under imminent threat.

Human-induced habitat fragmentation has been reported to affect the species, with numbers decreasing. A 2020 assessment reported no significant threats, while noting concern about inappropriate fire regimes and the vulnerability of isolated populations to habitat change.

Threats: Status and implications

The current DBCA list gives the species Priority 3: poorly known, known from several locations and not under imminent threat. Treat rocky shelter, adjacent feeding vegetation and connections between them as precautionary values during planning. Development-related impacts have not been quantified.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Survey effort should target rocky shelter and nearby feeding trees, particularly at night. Detection may be difficult because the species is secretive and can retreat into crevices.

Review available records, mapped rocky outcrops and proposed clearing boundaries. Atlas of Living Australia records include 21 distinct 0.1-degree locations in WA, but do not identify individual sites. Do not assume the species is absent because no record is mapped.

Survey methodology: 2. Daytime habitat inspection

Walk rocky outcrops to identify large boulders, deeply fissured rock, crevices and protected ledges. Map these features together with nearby trees and other potential feeding vegetation.

Inspect potential shelter features from a safe position and avoid moving rocks or reaching into crevices. Do not damage or block possible refuges during inspection.

Survey methodology: 3. Night spotlighting

Undertake targeted night searches along the edge of rocky shelter and in nearby trees, using a spotlight to check for the reported bright eye-shine. Search quietly and allow time to observe animals moving between rocks and trees.

Do not rely on an animal remaining visible in a beam. The species may withdraw to a crevice, and a single negative search cannot establish absence.

Vegetation associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific vegetation association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations: Rocky, stony or shallow ground

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

The species is reported to live exclusively in rocky outcrops, favouring areas with large boulders and deeply fissured rock.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: NT, WA, QLD.

Habitat use: general

Attribution gap: No sentence-level reference is attached to the original profile block. Review the profile bibliography; this candidate is not source-verified.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Define the work area

Plan works around mapped rocky refuges and nearby feeding habitat, and arrange qualified fauna oversight where suitable habitat may be affected.

Map rocky outcrops, boulder piles, fissures, crevices and protected ledges within and beside the proposed disturbance area. Include nearby trees in the assessment because the possum uses trees for feeding.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Set controls

Where practicable, avoid clearing or disturbing rocky shelter and retain adjacent feeding vegetation. Mark exclusion areas clearly and brief clearing crews on the possibility of a possum sheltering in a crevice.

Prepare a response plan before works begin, including who will stop work, who will assess an encounter and how applicable wildlife and DBCA requirements will be followed.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Check before clearing

Use staged, fauna-aware work practices around rocky habitat. Stop work if a possum or a possible occupied refuge is encountered.

Have a fauna spotter catcher or suitably qualified ecologist check the work area and immediate surrounds before disturbance, with particular attention to crevices and ledges. Do not assume a refuge is unoccupied because no animal is visible.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to an encounter

Stop work, keep people and machinery clear, and allow the animal an unobstructed route back towards rocky shelter where this can be done safely. Do not flush it from a crevice, handle it without appropriate authority, or damage the refuge to reach it.

The authorised fauna professional should assess the situation and determine the appropriate action under applicable approvals and wildlife procedures. Record the location, habitat feature and outcome.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Check retained habitat

Confirm that retained habitat remains intact and record any fauna observations or incidents for follow-up.

Inspect exclusion areas after works to confirm that rocky refuges and adjacent vegetation have not been disturbed, blocked or used for access or storage.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Record and review

Document searches, sightings, work stoppages, fauna actions and any damage to habitat features. Pass records to the project ecologist and relevant authorities where required, and use the information to review site controls before further works.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Protect and restore habitat

Rehabilitation should prioritise the rocky shelter features and adjacent native vegetation identified at the site.

Retain existing outcrops, boulders, fissures and crevices wherever practicable. Restore disturbed adjacent vegetation with locally appropriate native plants, including suitable food plants where these are known from the site.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor outcomes

Keep machinery, stockpiles and access routes away from retained rocky features. Monitor rehabilitation for damage and vegetation establishment, and use qualified advice to guide any proposed handling or relocation of fauna. A species-specific rehabilitation method has not been established.

Sources